PMID: 16519091Mar 8, 2006Paper

Quality of life and family factors in patients with advanced stages of cancer

Annales Academiae Medicae Stetinensis
Marzena Drozd-Dabrowska

Abstract

The prevalence of cancer in the Polish population is steadily increasing. The quality of life gains importance as the lifespan of patients with cancer is nowadays longer than ever before. The family and the life partner of the patient with a terminal illness (cancer included) is often the primary provider of care. It thus seemed interesting to investigate whether family factors and marital status determine the quality of life of patients receiving palliative treatment for various kinds of cancer. This questionnaire survey was done in 95 cancer patients (48 males, 47 females) and addressed the quality of life in three key aspects: physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, and daily activity. 50 patients (13 males, 37 females) were living alone (single, divorced, widowed) while the remaining 45 (33 males, 12 females) were married. The participants responded to a questionnaire concerned with social and demographic data and some aspects of the illness and to The Rotterdam Symptoms Checklist (RSCL). The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) was used for marital couples. Gender, children, religion, marital status and the quality of marital life had no effect on the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer. Younger patients and mothe...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.